One of my favorite things about running Audioeclectica is getting to hear all sorts of bands and artists. When new music arrives in my inbox I get pretty excited to check out what’s in there. One of the bands I recently came across that has peaked my interest is a band called Heavy Halo who hail from NYC. Heavy Halo is a very interesting and compelling band as their sound is inspired by Nine Inch Nails, The Smashing Pumpkins and The Cure. When listening to the band you can pick up on the subtleties of those bands but it doesn’t sound derivative. Instead there are distinct sounds of the dark new romantic era mixed with a cinematic element that feels like you are inside a score of a film. Their latest single “New Blood” from their upcoming album, Damaged Dream (out July 25th via Silent Pendulum Records) is quite the trip of a song. The accompanying video definitely plays on the cinematic element that I talked about. I’m really excited to hear more from Heavy Halo and hopefully a Los Angeles show is in the cards soon so I can see this all live! So check out Heavy Halo and see why they are on the rise!
There are quite a few bands from the 90’s that are a huge influence and inspiration for bands today. The resurgence of that sound is coming back around and while it’s been fun to hear some of these bands, there is nothing like the ones that pioneered that sound and style. Helmet is one of those band from the 90’s that can be heard in so many bands of the last 20 plus years be it Linkin Park, Chevelle, Deftones and more. Which is why when the chance to go see Helmet play their classic album, Betty in full came up, it was an absolute no brainer to go.
From the moment Helmet took the stage and the feedback started and then launching straight into “Wilma’s Rainbow” you knew this night was going to be special. Playing Betty in order meant that I got to hear one of, if not my favorite Helmet song quite early which is “I Know.” That song is so damn good. It’s one of those too that you can tell many bands have ripped off. Throughout the play through of Betty the band kept the train rolling without breaks making the show quite an immersive experience. Betty has a plethora of great songs including “Biscuits For Smut,” “Milktoast/Milquetoast,” “Tic,” “Street Crab,” “Speechless” and the always fun “Overrated.” The whole play through of Betty was superb and the crowd was super into it. Watching people singing along, moshing, headbanging, swaying, it was all just great. Then came a whole other set featuring songs from Meantime, Aftertaste, Strap It On and their most recent albums, Dead To The World and Left. As a giant fan of Meantime and Aftertaste it was quite awesome to hear those songs especially “Driving Nowhere” from Aftertaste (which I truly believe to be one of the more underrated albums of the 90’s). They also threw in their song “Just Another Victim” from the Judgement Night soundtrack and the crowd went nuts for that one. Didn’t hurt that it was played right after “Unsung” either!
The Regent Theater was packed from the front to the back and upstairs as well. Helmet absolutely decimated the venue with the volume and aggressive performance that left me wanting to go home and riff out. I haven’t been to a show in a while where I have left feeling like that. Page Hamilton is still a force of nature on guitar and one of the most innovative guitarists. Plus those little jazz licks that he throws in just adds to the fun. This lineup of Helmet has been with Page since 2010 and you can most definitely tell how tight the band is not to mention the amount of fun they have up there. Guitarist Dan Beeman is one hell of a player and he brings it each and every night to the songs new and old. He’s got this tone that matches Page’s so well that when you hear it in unison it’s this gigantic wall of sound that will blow your hair back. Then you add in bassist Dave Case and his rumbling low end and drummer Kyle Stevenson and his thunderous groove. Add those all up and you’ve got one hell of a band. Helmet live in 2025 is one hell of a show and I will most definitely be going back again next time they are in LA.
Also playing this evening was a band I was not familiar with called Slomosa. I’ve been trying not to check out the opening bands like I used to so I could go in with fresh ears and I’m glad I did. These Norwegians kicked ass. They have this really cool style that sounds like Songs For The Deaf era Queens Of The Stone Age mixed with Master Of Reality era Black Sabbath along with a bit of Helmet in there. Slomosa is anything but slow. They are one hell of a rock band and I really hope more people get to hear them as they are now on my radar for sure!
I’ve been to a few shows already this year and I have to say this one is going to probably stay in my top ten of the year. Thank you Page, Dan, Dave and Kyle for one hell of a show and the chat! Can’t wait to see Helmet again. And if Helmet is in your neck of the woods, get out to the show! You won’t regret it!
Review and Photos By: Brian Lacy
HELMET:
SLOMOSA:
HELMET SET LIST:
Betty (Set I): 01) Wilma’s Rainbow 02) I Know 03) Biscuits For Smut 04) Milquetoast 05) Tic 06) Rollo 07) Street Crab 08) Clean 09) Vaccination 10) Beautiful Love 11) Speechless 12) The Silver Hawaiian 13) Overrated 14) Sam Hell
Set II:
15) Ironhead 16) Drunk In The Afternoon 17) Birth Defect 18) Broadcast Emotion 19) Bad Mood 20) Dislocated 21) Driving Nowhere
Set III (Encore):
22) Gun Fluff 23) Unsung 24) Just Another Victim 25) In The Meantime
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